Aging, diversity focus of AARP forum

America is facing an aging and more diverse population, and the government in particular needs to be ready, AARP President Jennie Chin Hansen said today at the AARP Virginia Diversity and Aging Forum in Richmond.

Nearly 20 percent of the people in Virginia will be 65 and older in 2020, up from about 14 percent today, Hansen said.

About 160 people attended the forum at the Virginia Holocaust Museum.

Hansen talked about aging with dignity and underscored the AARP's support for health-care reform.

She said disparities in treating acute illness and managing chronic disease are getting worse for African American, Hispanics and poor people.

"The important step that we must absolutely take is a reformed, patient-focused health care system that provides everyone with affordable health care insurance," Hansen said.

She said the AARP is nonpartisan and the organization supported the 2003 Medicare prescription drug plan under President Bush.

She said the AARP disapproved of the so-called "donut hole" in the plan requiring people to pay at some point for their medications but the overall plan was a step toward broader, more inclusive coverage.

The donut hole section will be phased out completely by 2019 in the new bill before Congress, she said.